Ohio Caverns first in U.S. to produce solar energy on site

When Ohio Caverns opened to the public in 1897, “visitors walked through with lanterns and candles”; now, the tourist attraction is “the first cave in the United States to have solar energy produced on site,” the Urbana Daily Citizen reports. Ohio Caverns installed a solar field that produces “44,000 watts at any given time when the sun is at its peak,” making it “energy neutral,” according to the article. Owner Eric Evans said the cave and facilities were completely retrofitted with LED lighting, which lowered energy consumption to the point “that solar became very viable.” Evans said, “we’ve been stewards of the environment since the cave first opened. . . . That’s where we see the future and longevity of the cavern is protecting and preserving the environment, and this was by far the cleanest form of energy known.” For more, read the full article.